When I was in middle school and high school, I would eat the strangest things for snacks. Baked beans was one of those things. The Bush's Baked Beans were always my absolute favorite (I was in no way paid to say that...pretty sure Bush's doesn't know I exist haha). I still on occasion get a can for a late night snack. But I am also pretty hooked on making my favorite store-bought or restaurant foods at home. I loved these beans...they were flavorful and so good. I used the bacon bits that are actual pieces of bacon. I am going to try to make a sauce to go with these beans next time I make them - because they were not like traditional super saucy baked beans.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

For the longest time, I made one type of stuffed pepper - with rice, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and beef. It's a great recipe and I didn't feel the need to make a new recipe until I discovered this one. I've opened up to sausage a little bit. As a child, I never ate it - I didn't like it, didn't want anything to do with it...but now I'm okay with Italian sausage. I'm starting to be okay with breakfast sausage, especially the sage flavored ones.

Unfortunately at the time of me making these peppers, my husband had the flu and wasn't able to eat one of these. So they will be made again sometime soon. The sausage and parmesan go very well together and they are a welcome change from the previous stuffed pepper recipe.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Another reveal day for Group D! This month, I was happy to find that my assignment was one of my newbies, Rebekah from Making Miracles. She has been blogging since 2006 about her life as a surrogate, mom, and recipe tester! I have always admired anyone who could carry a life for someone else. It's such a selfless act - incredibly respectable.

I went to Rebekah's blog with a mission. I have been slacking on making breakfast recipes and posting breakfast recipes for the last few months. I needed a breakfast recipe. When I saw Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls, I knew my search was over.

The thing I really like about these rolls is that it is ONE rise...instead of two. I love cinnamon rolls, but I hate making them because they take hours. These gorgeous, delicious babies do not. I absolutely adored the cream cheese frosting too! AND these are the first thing I got to photograph in my new light box!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

It seems like everyone is sick and my family is no different. We spent my kindergartener's week of winter break lazing around. It seems like it has just flown by though. All of us are starting to feel better - just in time to return to our regular routine. We also decided to splurge our tax return on something we didn't necessarily need, but really wanted: a new couch. It's so amazing. Nothing makes me feel like more of a grownup than buying furniture! :) Hope y'all have had a good week - it's time for some recipes!

Baby Ruth Cupcakes from NY Melrose FamilyWhen I was a kid, our grocery store always had a 3 for $1 Baby Ruth deal and I would love when I got my allowance because I'd always get tons of them. Definitely a kid-at-heart moment when I saw these cupcakes. I love the caramel drizzled on top especially.Source: thenymelrosefamily.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Classic Patty Melts from Love Bakes Good CakesJamie is posting all these delicious recipes lately - this one is definitely one of my favorites that I've found on her blog. I love patty melts. I mean grilled cheese and burgers had a baby, right?Source: lovebakesgoodcakes.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Cinnamon S'more Blondies from Lemon Tree DwellingI've seen the crazy marshmallows and wanted to try them...this one uses cinnamon marshmallows and I definitely want to eat a million of them just looking at these pictures.Source: lemontreedwelling.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Skillet Baked Pasta with Gouda from Half Baked HarvestSaved the best for last. Look at that cheesy goodness!

This week's Tasty Thursday
is still open (and will be until Tuesday), so feel free to stop by and
add a few recipes! :) Make sure to check out the other recipes linked up
too! Thank you all for linking up.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Ever since making snickerdoodle cookies for the first time, I am determined to try out all kinds of snickerdoodle recipes. I am a huge fan of muffins for breakfast because they are typically a fast breakfast. You just whip up the batter and bake them for 20 or so minutes. The kids loved these. My resident raccoon (he scavenges at night)...and by raccoon, I mean my 5 year old, ate the tops off of about five or six of the muffins in the middle of the night.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

I finally found that pesto isn't a bunch of weird ingredients, but a bunch of my favorite ingredients: basil, garlic, Parmesan! Yummy! I needed it for Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta with Bacon and Veggies that I guest posted over on Girls Gone Food, which is a fabulous recipe by the way.

It's almost tax time and I am hoping to invest in a food processor - is anyone else getting something for their kitchen this year with tax money?

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

I once was super sensitive to spicy foods. Even "hot" taco seasoning was way too much for me to handle. I met my husband and started to adapt very quickly to buffalo sauce and jalapeno everything. Over the last few years I have worked on stockpiling more and more foods with buffalo and/or jalapeno involved. I was excited to try this recipe because it uses kettle chips for a crust. The chips were very interesting - the heat was there, but it was like a short bite and then it was gone. So it wasn't an overwhelming heat, it was a brief bite and it didn't compromise the flavor. The original recipe also had a jalapeno ranch dip, but we don't like ranch, so I didn't make it.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

I'm starting as one of the contributors over on My Favorite Finds. I have applied to do a few contributor spots in the last few months, but I haven't gotten the spot. It really bummed me out. So I was happy to be approached by my bloggy buddy, Carrie, to contribute my choice on her blog. I went with desserts because I love them and now I have more of an excuse to make them whenever :)

I have had fried pickles before, but was intrigued when I saw beer battered. I paired the fried pickles with burgers, however, I think these would be perfect for game day. I really liked the fact that there was no egg mixture, flour mixture, and coating mixture. It was just a batter. Simple dunk and fry. I could not stop eating them - they were addictive.

Monday, February 18, 2013

I cannot get over how good these calzones were. My 5 year old out-ate my husband and I ended up making more the second time we had these. Plus we made them for family during the holidays and everyone loved them. We've made them four times since the first time and that is extremely rare in my house!

Oh and they came from none other than PDub - so you know they're good!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Some exciting foodie news: I got a light box! It wasn't super expensive and it's not top-of-the-line, but it is a light box none-the-less and from the little I've experimented with it, I'm so excited to use it more. It's going to be a great tool for the dark nights I have left of winter AND my late night baking adventures.

I have never had cookie butter, but it sounds incrediballs. Also sea salt and chocolate chips together are just amazing. This sounds like one addictive cookie!Source: confessionsofabakingqueen.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Philly Cheesesteak Pizza with Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Crust

from Chef Not Included

I think from now on...all our pizzas will be jalapeno popper stuffed crust.

I mean this is the most brilliant idea and for those who have been Fantastical fans for a while, you know that my husband and I cannot get enough of jalapeno poppers and anything philly cheesesteak!Source: chefnotincluded.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Caramel Mud Pie Cups

from Inside BruCrew Life

So this has pretzels, a caramel cheesecake layer, and chocolate pudding.

And whatever divine frosting Jocelyn put on top...and then sprinkles. Isn't that just precious?

This is another recipe that kind of blew my mind. I love banana bread, but I've never really tried any variations like the chocolate chip or peanut butter, etc.Source: confessionsofabakingqueen.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

from Mom on Timeout

I am new to brussels sprouts, but I love them. My family is okay with them, but I have a feeling this recipe would absolutely change their minds. It's bacon AND cheese!Source: momontimeout.com via Sarah on Pinterest

BBQ Chicken & Pineapple Jalapeno Poppers

from The Tasty Fork

My mouth waters just to think of the juicy pineapple and sweet bbq chicken with the spiciness of the jalapeno and salty bacon. We've had pulled pork jalapeno poppers, so I know BBQ is awesome with it. I just can't get over how great of an idea this is.Source: thetastyfork.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Homemade Ritz Crackers

from French Press

We got through Ritz Crackers like crazy. We love eating them with cheese and we're pretty cheese obsessed. I bought 3 blocks of different goudas for my husband on a trip to get breakfast foods for the morning at our friend's house.Source: heathersfrenchpress.com via Sarah on Pinterest

I know I am a huge fan of homemade Taco Bell because the quality of food has gone downhill in the last few years. I can hardly stomach it any more...nothing wrong with making something like it, but so much better because you have the control of quality and ingredients!Source: lovebakesgoodcakes.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Red Velvet Cake Mix Donuts

from Buns in my Oven

I have to admit...red velvet is not my favorite, but I totally drooled when I saw these.

I try my hardest to give credit where credit is due. If I don't know the source, I mark it as "source unknown". Please feel free to contact me if you know where the recipe originates. I hope that everyone is making sure to cite sources because the fantastical minds behind recipes really deserve credit for them :)

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